Kaikōura fishing rules
Size and daily limits for the Kaikōura coast from Clarence Point to the Conway River, out to 12 nautical miles.
Checked against MPI on 28 October 2026 (MPI last reviewed 15 July 2026). Rules change, and some harbours and reserves have their own rules or are closed. Always check the official app before you keep a fish.
Popular fish
Snapper
tāmure
- 10 a dayMin 25 cm
New Zealand's most popular saltwater fish. Pinkish-red with bright blue spots. Found over reefs, channels, mussel farms and soft bottom from the shore out to around 100 m. Ledger rigs with fresh bait, softbaits and slow jigs all work, best around the change of light and the tide.
Spring snapper: how to rig up
Kingfish
haku
- 3 a dayMin 75 cmCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species.
Big, fast and strong, with a yellow tail and a bronze stripe down the side. Hunts around pinnacles, points, reefs and wharves. Live bait, jigs and stickbaits on heavy gear. Many anglers release the big breeders.
How to catch kingfish
Kahawai
- 10 a dayNo minimum
Silver, hard-fighting and found in schools right around the coast, often busting up bait on the surface. Takes small lures, softbaits, flies and bait. Bleed it straight away and keep it cold for the best eating.
How to catch kahawai
Blue cod
rāwaru
- Blue cod (Kaikōura Marine Area)6 a dayMin 33 cmLand whole or gutted only.
- Blue cod (Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui and Oaro-Haumuri taiāpure)2 a dayMin 33 cmLand whole or gutted only.
- Blue cod (everywhere else in Kaikōura)10 a dayMin 33 cmLand whole or gutted only.
The classic southern reef fish, found right around the country but most common from Cook Strait south. A curious fish that comes to bait readily. Limits vary a lot from place to place, and it must be landed whole or gutted in most areas so it can be measured.
- Blue cod (Kaikōura Marine Area)
Gurnard
kumukumu
- Within the 30Min 25 cm
Red gurnard live on sand and mud bottoms and walk along on the front rays of their fins, which have bright blue edges. They grunt when landed. Small baits on flasher rigs drifted over sand work well.
How to catch gurnard
Trevally
araara
- Within the 30Min 25 cm
Schooling fish with a soft mouth, so play them gently. Found in harbours, around reefs and along surf beaches. Small baits and berley bring them in.
Tarakihi
- 10 a dayMin 25 cm
Silver with a black band behind the head. Lives over sand and gravel near reefs, usually in deeper water. Small hooks with bait.
Hāpuku
- 3 a dayNo minimumCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species.
Hāpuku and bass are big groper from deep reefs, often 100 m or more. Heavy gear and big baits. Limits are low, so take only what you need.
Flounder
pātiki
- Flatfish (except sand flounder)Within the 30Min 25 cm
- Sand flounderWithin the 30Min 23 cm
Flatfish of harbours, estuaries and sandy shallows. Small baits on light gear, or set nets and spears where allowed. Sand flounder often has a smaller minimum than other flatfish.
- Flatfish (except sand flounder)
Blue moki
- 10 a dayMin 40 cm
Grey-blue reef fish often found over sand next to rocks. Takes shellfish and crab baits.
Red cod
- 10 a dayMin 25 cm
Soft-fleshed fish of sandy and muddy bottoms, more common in the south. Best eaten fresh.
Sea perch
- 20 a dayMin 26 cmThe 26 cm minimum applies in the Kaikōura Marine Area (Te Whata Kai o Rakihouia i Te Tai o Marokura).
Small, spiny, orange-red reef fish that grabs baits meant for blue cod. Handle with care, as the spines are sharp.
Elephant fish
- 5 a dayNo minimum
A shark relative with a trunk-like snout that feeds over sand, mostly on the east coast of the South Island in spring and summer. Takes shellfish and crab baits.
Tuna
- 1 a dayNo minimum
Southern bluefin tuna turn up offshore in winter. Big fish on heavy game gear.
Salmon
- 1 a dayNo minimum
Quinnat (chinook) salmon run up the big South Island rivers in summer and are sometimes caught at sea near the river mouths.
All finfish limits
Every species counts towards the 30 a day. Some also have their own lower limit.
| Species | Daily limit | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|
Blue cod (Kaikōura Marine Area)Land whole or gutted only. | 6 | 33 cm |
Blue cod (Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui and Oaro-Haumuri taiāpure)Land whole or gutted only. | 2 | 33 cm |
Blue cod (everywhere else in Kaikōura)Land whole or gutted only. | 10 | 33 cm |
KingfishCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species. | 3 | 75 cm |
Hāpuku / bassCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species. | 3 | — |
 BluenoseCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species. | 3 | — |
Albacore tunaCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species. | 3 | — |
 LingCombined limit of 5 for albacore, bluenose, hāpuku / bass, kingfish and ling, with no more than 3 of any one species. | 3 | — |
Blue moki | 10 | 40 cm |
 Butterfish (greenbone) | 10 | 35 cm |
Elephant fish | 5 | — |
Kahawai | 10 | — |
Red cod | 10 | 25 cm |
 Red moki | No take | — |
Sea perchThe 26 cm minimum applies in the Kaikōura Marine Area (Te Whata Kai o Rakihouia i Te Tai o Marokura). | 20 | 26 cm |
Snapper | 10 | 25 cm |
Tarakihi | 10 | 25 cm |
 Trumpeter | 15 | 35 cm |
 Warehou | 15 | — |
Spiny dogfish | 15 | — |
 Rig | 3 | — |
 School shark | 3 | — |
Skate / ray | 5 | — |
Bronze shark | 1 | — |
Game sharks (blue, hammerhead, mako, porbeagle, seven-gilled, thresher)1 game shark in total. | 1 | — |
Marlin | 1 | — |
Quinnat salmon | 1 | — |
Southern bluefin tuna | 1 | — |
Flatfish (except sand flounder) | Within the 30 | 25 cm |
Sand flounder | Within the 30 | 23 cm |
Red gurnard | Within the 30 | 25 cm |
Trevally | Within the 30 | 25 cm |
 Grey mullet | Within the 30 | — |
| All other finfish | Within the 30 | — |
Baitfish: 50 a day
Any mix of:
Anchovy, Jack, horse or Chilean mackerel, Koheru / scad, Pilchard, Piper / garfish, Slender or stout sprat, Yellow-eyed mullet.
Freshwater eels: 6 a day
On top of the 30 finfish and the baitfish.
Shellfish
| Species | Daily limit | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|
 Cockle | 50 | — |
 Kina (sea eggs) | 20 | — |
 Mussels | 50 | — |
 Pāua, ordinary (Marfells Beach to Conway River)Open 1 May to 31 August only. | 3 | 130 mm |
Pāua, yellow foot (Marfells Beach to Conway River)Open 1 May to 31 August only. | 3 | 80 mm |
Pāua, ordinary (Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure)Open 1 May to 31 August only. | 2 | 135 mm |
Pāua, yellow foot (Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure)Open 1 May to 31 August only. | 2 | 80 mm |
 Pipi | 150 | — |
Pupu (cat’s eye) | 20 | — |
 Tuatua | 150 | — |
All other shellfish (combined) | 30 | — |
Rock lobster (crayfish)
- 6 a day of spiny (red) and packhorse rock lobster combined, with no more than 3 packhorse.
- Minimum tail width: spiny (red) rock lobster 54 mm for males and 60 mm for females; packhorse rock lobster 84 mm for males and 90 mm for females. If unsure of the sex, use the female size.
- Return any female carrying eggs, any soft-shelled rock lobster and any you can’t measure.
Good to know
- The 30 finfish limit is per person per day, for any mix of finfish. Fish from here also count towards the South-East area limits.
- Baitfish (up to 50) and freshwater eels (up to 6) are on top of the 30.
- No fishing in the Hikurangi Marine Reserve or the Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) rāhui.
- Pāua stays closed all year in Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure (Kaikōura Peninsula) and the Oaro, Mangamaunu and Te Waha o te Marangai mātaitai.
- It is illegal to buy, sell or swap fish you catch recreationally.
Recent changes and closures
- The pāua season (Marfells Beach to Conway River) is open from 1 May to 31 August. The ordinary (blackfoot) pāua minimum is 130 mm, and 135 mm in the Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure.
Other areas
Planning a trip? Check the bite times and tides for your spot.